Recorded program viewing support method

ABSTRACT

A support method for helping the user find a desired program from a collection of recorded television programs easily and quickly, and a recording/reproducing apparatus using this method. The recorded program viewing support system, when recording a television program, records electronic program information on the program, classifies the electronic program information according to predefined program category criteria, and successfully assigns predefined category numbers (recording channels) to the program to be recorded. Before the user views a recorded program, the user specifies the number of the recorded channel. A recorded channel number is allocated with a category item and hence the user can easily know the contents of the recorded programs. The user can change the channel number successively or directly specify it by using a remote controller to find a desired program easily and quickly. When disk media such as HDD and DVD-RAM are used as a storage in particular, the recorded programs can be randomly accessed allowing the user to zap through recorded programs.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a system and apparatus for supporting auser to see a video in an apparatus for recording and playing TVprograms. Particularly, it relates to a system for supporting a user tosearch for his/her desired program from a group of recorded TV programseasily and quickly and an apparatus using the system. This apparatusincludes a video player/recorder, recorder and player.

In the prior art, there are roughly the following two methods ofsearching for TV programs recorded by a user.

Firstly, one of them is a method of searching while actually looking ata video by fast forwarding or rewinding a recorded program. In recentyears, a video recorder has come into existence which facilitatessearching for a TV program while listening to sound by doubling theimage speed and maintaining the sound speed at a normal level. Toincrease the efficiency of retrieval, great efforts have recently beenmade to increase the fast forward speed and the rewind speed.

Secondly, the other is a method of indexing programs at the time ofrecording and searching for a desired program by displaying a list ofthe indices on the screen. Generally speaking, recording date and timeare used as indices. It is considered that information which can beacquired as the attributes of a program by a video recorder arecurrently only recording date and time. In the video recorder, a list ofthe recording times and dates of TV programs is displayed on the screenso that a user can search for his/her desired program from the listwhile recollecting his/her recording date and time.

Along with the digitization of TV broadcasting, electronic informationon TV programs is multiplexed in broadcasting and aired. This electronicprogram information is generally called EPG (Electronic Program Guide).EPG includes key words such as the title, category and performers ofeach program. Current digital satellite broadcasting enables a user toselect his/her desired channel by displaying this EPG on the screen. Asfor terrestrial broadcasting, a service for broadcasting electronicprogram information embedded in VBI (Vertical Blanking Interval) whichis an unused area will be shortly started.

When progress is made in this broadcasting service, the third methodthat information contained in EPG is used as retrieval indices is easilyconceivable. In this case, when a program is recorded, EPG is alsostored. To see a recorded program, the titles of recorded programs arelisted on the screen ad a user selects his/her desired program from thislist.

A description is subsequently given of the function of a video recorderrelated to the present invention. This function is not always necessaryto carry out the present invention.

Along with the spread of digital broadcasting, apparatuses for recordinga digital video will come into existence. Since the high compression ofa digital video can be expected from the digital video recorders, alarge number of video programs can be recorded. Also, with theappearance of a DVD-RAM changer and an increase in the capacity of ahard disk, a larger number of video programs will be able to berecorded.

Further, the program recording function will be improved by using theabove mentioned EPG. For example, it will be possible to record aprogram by directly specifying the title of the program or toautomatically record a program having a keyword by specifying thekeyword included in program information such as the category orperformer of the program. Particularly, the user's history of viewing isanalyzed to automatically record a program which seems to be thefavorite of the user.

The present invention is particularly effective for a video recorderwhich has the above automatic recording function and can store a largenumber of video programs.

Subsequently, problems which are seen in the prior art will be reviewed.

In the first method, a user must always look at the screen until he/shefinds out his/her desired program and fast forwarding and rewindingoperations are complicated and troublesome. Since this method depends onuser's intuition and memory, a user's burden is large. Particularly whena program is automatically recorded, user's intuition and memory cannotbe relied upon any longer. As more and more video images are stored, theuser's burden increases.

Since a video program is searched for with an index in the secondmethod, the user's burden is slightly lightened. However, since indexinformation is only recording date and time, it can be said that thismethod also depends on the intuition and memory of a user. Particularly,when a program is automatically recorded, it is difficult to recall thecontents of the recorded program from its recording date and time.

Since EPG indicative of the contents of a program such as the title of aprogram is used as an index in the third method, the burden of user'sintuition and memory is greatly lightened. That is, the user searchesfor his/her desired program while looking at the titles of programs.However, when a large number of recorded programs can be stored, thetitles of all the recorded programs cannot be displayed on the screenand the retrieval of indices becomes complicated. Further, it isdifficult to recall the contents of automatically recorded programs fromprogram information alone.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a systemand apparatus for searching for a recorded video program easily andquickly.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a system andapparatus for searching for a user's desired program from a large numberof automatically recorded video programs easily.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To attain the above objects, the present invention is constituted asdescribed below. In a video recorder for recording a video, electronicvideo information related to videos and corresponding to each unit videois classified according to predetermined criteria of videoclassification and a class number based on the result of classificationis assigned to each unit video to be recorded.

As an example, in the recorded video viewing support system of thepresent invention, when a video program is to be recorded, electronicprogram information on the program is recorded and classified accordingto predetermined criteria of program classification and a predeterminedclass number (record channel) is assigned to a recorded program.

The recording of electronic program information may be carried out at atime different from the time of recording a video program.

Further, the present invention includes the recording of not only avideo program but also a sound program such as a radio program.

To see a recorded program, the recorded program corresponding to arecord channel specified by a user (viewer) may be played. At thispoint, when an ordinary TV program is displayed during the playing ofthe recorded program at this point, the playing of the recorded programmay be interrupted. Since program class items are assigned to recordchannel numbers, a user can easily recall the contents of a recordedprogram from a channel number. Further, the user can change the channelnumber sequentially or directly specify a channel number using a remotecontroller to search for a program that he/she likes to see easily andquickly. Particularly when a disk medium such as HDD or DVD-RAM is usedas a recording medium, it is possible to zap through recorded programsbecause random access to the recorded program becomes possible. Thepresent invention also provides a recording medium in which a classnumber (record channel) is recorded together with a movie. The presentinvention further includes a video camera and a sound recorder whichrecord a class number.

The present invention provides a recorded video viewing supportapparatus for supporting a TV program player/recorder to recordprograms, which can be connected to the TV program player/recordercapable of recording TV programs and playing recorded TV programs, whichapparatus comprises means of classifying broadcast TV programs andelectronic program information corresponding to the broadcast TVprograms according to specified criteria of video classification andmeans of assigning class numbers according to classification results torecorded TV programs. The recorded video viewing support apparatusencompasses a recorded video viewing support apparatus comprising meansof outputting the assigned class numbers to the TV programplayer/recorder. The recorded video viewing support apparatus furtherencompasses a recorded video viewing support apparatus which comprisesmeans of storing the assigned class numbers and allows the TV programplayer/recorder to play a TV program recorded by the TV programplayer/recorder based on the stored class number and a number related tothe class number and input from a viewer.

Further, the present invention provides a video recording medium whichis capable of recording video information and can be played by a videoplayer, wherein class numbers related to recorded video information andcorresponding to classification results of electronic video informationon videos based on the predetermined criteria of video classificationare assigned to recorded video information and stored, and the videoinformation is played when the channel selection button of a remotecontroller of a video player or a TV receiver used in conjunction withthe video player is selected if the selected number is a stored classnumber. The number may be input from a device other than the remotecontroller. The remote controller is not the remote controller of thevideo player or TV receiver. Further, the number related to a classnumber does not need to be equal to the class number.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the constitution of a systemaccording to the first, second, third and fourth embodiments of thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the whole procedure of a recordedvideo viewing supporting program in the first, second, third and fourthembodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the processing flow of a channeldefinition program in the first, second, third and fourth embodiments ofthe present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the processing flow of a channelassignment program in the first, second, third and fourth embodiments ofthe present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the processing flow of a channelreservation program in the first, second, third and fourth embodimentsof the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the processing flow of a channelselection program in the first, second, third and fourth embodiments ofthe present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the processing flow of a channeldirect selection program in the first, second, third and fourthembodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the processing flow of a channelsequential selection program in the first, second, third and fourthembodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining the processing flow of a recordchannel playback program in the first, second, third and fourthembodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the processing flow of a monitoringprogram in the first, second, third and fourth embodiments of thepresent invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining the processing flow of a channelmanagement program in the first, second, third and fourth embodiments ofthe present invention.

FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining the constitution of a programinformation database in the first, second, third and fourth embodimentsof the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining the constitution of a channeldefinition table in the first, second, third and fourth embodiments ofthe present invention.

FIG. 14 is a diagram for explaining the constitution of a channelassignment table in the first, second, third and fourth embodiments ofthe present invention.

FIG. 15 is a diagram for showing the appearance of a remote controllerused by a user in the first, second, third and fourth embodiments of thepresent invention.

FIG. 16 is a diagram for showing the display of channel definition inthe first, second, third and fourth embodiments of the presentinvention.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing the display of a recorded program in thefirst, second, third and fourth embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a diagram for explaining the concept of disk access in thefirst, second, third and fourth embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a diagram for explaining the constitution of an apparatusaccording to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 20 is a diagram for explaining the constitution of an apparatusaccording to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 21 is a diagram for explaining the constitution of an apparatusaccording to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 22 is a diagram for explaining the constitution of an apparatusaccording to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 23 is a diagram for explaining the constitution of an apparatusaccording to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be describedhereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(The First Embodiment)

The first embodiment will be first described. The first embodiment is avideo player/recorder 120 which the present invention is applied to.

Firstly, FIG. 19 shows the constitution of the apparatus of thisembodiment. The video player/recorder 120 records a TV program receivedfrom an antenna 107 and plays the recorded program (recorded TV program,may be simply referred to as “video”) on a TV display device 109. Asunderstood from FIG. 19, recorded video viewing supporting means 110 isincorporated in the video player/recorder 120.

TV broadcasting is terrestrial broadcasting (analog), CATV (analog) orsatellite broadcasting (analog, digital) all of which are currentlyavailable. As for digital terrestrial broadcasting and CATV which willbe made available in the future, their broadcasting systems are expectedto be the same as digital satellite broadcasting. Therefore, the presentinvention can be applied to these services as well. Particularly, EPG(Electronic Program Guide which will be detailed hereinafter) to behandled in the present invention will be multiplexed with a video andbroadcast.

The TV display device 109 which conforms to the current TV broadcastingsystem such as NTSC, PAL or SECAM is imagined. In this case, the TVdisplay device 109 and the video player/recorder 120 are connected by ananalog AV cable 140. When the TV display device incorporates a digitalvideo decoder, a cable capable of digital transmission such as a plasticoptical fiber cable is used.

FIG. 1 shows the constitution of the system of this embodiment. Thevideo player/recorder 120 comprises EPG receiving means 101, TV programreceiving means 102, external video input means 103, recording means104, playing means 105, video storage device 106 and recorded videoviewing supporting means 110. The video player/recorder 120 is connectedto the antenna 107, the external video archive 108 and TV display device109. In FIG. 1, the TV display device 109 and the video player/recorder120 are separate units but they may be integrated into a single unit(see FIG. 20). The video player/recorder 120 may be a recorder without aplayback function. The video player/recorder 120 may be a video player,having no recording function, for playing a program recorded by arecorder (or a player/recorder) to which the present invention isapplied. In the current digital satellite broadcasting, images, soundand data are multiplexed and broadcast. The EPG receiving means 101extracts EPG data from a signal received by the antenna 107. The TVprogram receiving means 102 extracts the images and sound of a specificprogram. The processing of receiving this digital satellite broadcastingis detailed in the Video Information Media Society's bulletin Vol. 51,No. 9, 1997, pp. 1364(30)-1369(35).

Like an ordinary video player/recorder, a video which can be recorded inthis embodiment is not limited to a broadcast program. The videoplayer/recorder 120 comprises external video input means 103 to record avideo input from the external video archive 108. Stated morespecifically, a video taken by a user can be handled.

The external video archive 108 may record a class number (recordchannel) like the video player/recorder 120. In this case, means ofrecording information indicating the contents of a recorded program isprovided in place of the EPG receiving means. This means may be means ofinputting information when (or before or after) a cameraman shoots inthe external video archive 108. Information may be a class number orrecord channel in addition to shooting contents (shot person, scenery orobject, shooting time and date, etc.). The shooting contents may beanalyzed to create information. Further, the recorded video viewingsupporting means 110 may be separate from the video player/recorder.

This embodiment is based on condition that a video is recorded asdigital signals. To record an analog broadcast program, the recordingmeans 104 comprises an AD converter, digital video compression CODEC(encoder) and means of writing data to a storage device. To record adigital broadcast program, the recording means 104 comprises onlywriting means. As a matter of course, digital recording is not anabsolute condition in the present invention and analog recording is alsopossible. The effect of the present invention is expected more fordigital recording than analog recording.

Since this embodiment is based on condition that analog signals areoutput to the TV display device 109, the playing means 105 comprisesmeans of reading data from the storage device, digital video extensionCODEC (decoder), DA converter and TV signal converter. As a matter ofcourse, analog playback is not an absolute condition in the presentinvention but digital playback is also possible. However, as a TVdisplay device into which digital signals can be input is not yet to beavailable on the market, analog playback which is expected to be morepopular will be described in this embodiment.

The video storage device 106 is a random accessible disk medium such ashard disk (HDD) or DVD-RAM, or a tape medium which enables sequentialaccess. Particularly HDD is a storage medium appropriate in thisembodiment because the density of HDD is increasing more and more.Meanwhile, as DVD-RAM has a too small memory capacity to be used in thisembodiment, a disk changer must be provided to enable a plurality ofDVD-RAM disks to be used at the same time. A tape may be used as astorage medium in this embodiment. Since a tape is a relativelyinexpensive medium, it is advantageously used to reduce the costs of theapparatus. The video storage device 106 may not be one of theconstituent elements of the video player/recorder 120 and may bedetachable.

The recorded video viewing support means 110 comprises operating means111, control means 112 and storage means 113. Generally speaking, aremote controller is used as the operating means in the videoplayer/recorder. A micro-controller is used as the control means 112. Arandom accessible memory is used as the storage means 113. Programs anddata which the control means 112 refers to are temporarily stored in thestorage means 113. As a matter of course, the recorded video viewingsupport means 110 also comprises storage means of storing programs anddata constantly.

The programs stored in the storage means 113 include a channeldefinition program 200, a channel assignment program 300, channelselection program 400 and channel management program 500. The storagemeans 113 manages a channel definition table 700 and a channelassignment table 800 as data tables. Electronic program information 600received from the EPG receiving means 101 is also managed by the storagemeans 113. Although only programs and data characteristic to the presentinvention are specified in this embodiment, programs and data such as aprogram for controlling various devices are required for a whole system.

The programs and data are executed by the control means 112. Input fromthe operating means 111 is used for a program which requires theoperation of a user. The constitutions of data tables and the processingflows of programs will be described hereinafter.

The processing flow in FIG. 1 will be explained briefly, focusing on thecharacteristic part of the present invention.

To record a TV program, the TV program to be recorded is received by theprogram receiving means 102 and recorded in the video storage device 106by the recording means 104. In the present invention, the followingprocessing is executed in addition to this processing.

A TV program and EPG on this TV program are first received by the EPGreceiving means 101. EPG means electronic program information. That is,EPG includes information on a recorded TV program. A service forbroadcasting a TV program and EPG multiplexed with the TV program hasalready been offered though it will be detailed hereinafter.

EPG and a TV program may not be received at the same time. For example,EPG for several programs is first received at the beginning of each dayand the TV programs are received later.

Thereafter, the recorded video viewing support means 110 judges thecontents of a recorded TV program (to be simply referred to as “recordedprogram” or “video” hereinafter) from EPG and assigns an appropriatenumber to the recorded program based on the result of judgment. Thecontents of EPG may contain a number itself. Since the contents of EPGand the number are correlated with each other based on a certain rule,some significant number is assigned to the recorded program. That is,like the channels of the current TV broadcasting receiver (to bereferred to as “TV” hereinafter), videos can be handled integrally usingnumbers. Then, in the present invention, the numbers are called “channelnumbers” and the numbered recorded programs are called “channels” (or“record channels” to distinguish them from TV broadcast programs). Therelationship between the contents of EPG and the assigned number may bechanged by a user. Alternatively, this relationship may be sent from thebroadcasting station.

To play a recorded program, a user specifies a channel number to searchfor a desired recorded program unlike an ordinary video player/recorder.The recorded video viewing supporting means 110 searches for a recordedprogram corresponding to the channel number. The playing means 105 playsand displays the recorded program on the TV display device 109.

As for how a user specifies a channel, the user directly inputs achannel number with the remote controller or changes the channelsequentially. These operation methods are the same as when viewing TVprograms. That is, the present invention can provide user comprehensibleand friendly “Look & Feel” when a user sees a video. The number input bythe user and the number assigned by the apparatus may the same ordifferent. When they are different, they may be correlated with eachother.

When the number is contained in EPG, the number may be a user selectionnumber as it is. A number input by the user may be assigned frominformation other than the number contained in EPG.

A predetermined specific program information is assigned to each channeland each recorded program is assigned to the channel using EPG.Therefore, the user can estimate the contents of the recorded programfrom the channel number easily and search for his/her desired recordedprogram easily.

When a random accessible disk medium such as HDD or DVD-RAM is used inthe video storage device 106, data can be sought quickly, thereby makingit possible to switch recorded programs to be played on a real timebasis. The operation (called “zapping”) of changing the channel tosearch for a desired program is carried out by a user very often withthe current TV. According to the present invention, the videoplayer/recorder 120 also allows for the zapping operation of changingthe record channel at random to search for a desired recorded program.

The previously assigned numbers (channel numbers) and the video storagedevice 106 for storing a video are an embodiment of the presentinvention.

Further, when a special channel number is assigned to a video input fromthe external video archive 108, the video can be handled in the samemanner as a broadcast program. As a result, the uniform video operationusing channels is made possible with the whole video player/recorder.

FIG. 2 shows the total procedure of a recorded video viewing supportprogram in the present invention.

First, in a configuration mode 150, the processing of setting the videoplayer/recorder is carried out. The present invention is characterizedin that the channel definition program 200 is provided in thisconfiguration mode. The channel definition program 200 creates and editsa channel definition table 700 for correlating channel numbers with thecontents of programs.

In the subsequent scheduling mode 151, a program to be recorded isrecorded with a timer. Conventionally, the user recorded a program byspecifying a time or a broadcasting station by himself/herself. Inrecent years, there have been proposed a method of specifying a programdirectly from an electronic program table prepared based on EPG and amethod of automatically recording a program corresponding to a specifiedkeyword indicative of the category or performer of the program.Particularly, Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No.10-179992proposes a method of automatically recording a program which seems to bea user's favorite by analyzing the user's history of viewing.

In the subsequent program recording mode 152, a TV program is recorded.Without scheduling, the user might specify direct recording. The presentinvention is characterized in that the channel assignment program 300 isprovided in the program recording mode. With the channel assignmentprogram 300, program information on a program to be recorded is acquiredfrom EPG 600. A channel set to which the recorded program is assigned isobtained by checking the program information with the channel definitiontable 700. Further, an unused channel of the group of channels issecured from the channel assignment table 800 and assigned to therecorded program. This assigned channel number is managed by the channelassignment table together with information on the recorded program. Inthe subsequent recorded program view mode 153, the user sees therecorded program. The present invention is characterized in that thechannel selection program 400 is provided in the recorded program viewmode 153. With the channel selection program 400, a correspondingrecorded program is retrieved from the channel assignment table 800based on the channel number input by the user. The recorded program isthen played.

Finally, in the recorded program management mode 154, such operation asthe deletion or save of the recorded program is carried out. The presentinvention is characterized in that channel management program 500 isprovided in the recorded program management mode 154. With the program,the channel number of the recorded program deleted by the user isreleased from the channel assignment table. The saving mark of arecorded program specified by the user to be saved is changed to ON withthe channel assignment table to ensure that the program does not releasethe channel number automatically. The program automatically releases thechannel number when there is a shortage of channel numbers.

FIG. 15 shows the appearance of the remote controller 900 operated bythe user. Like an ordinary video remote controller, it comprises a powerbutton, numeric button 903, channel button 904, volume button 905, playbutton 910, fast forward button 911, rewind button 912, stop button 913,pause button 914, timer record button 915 and record button 916. Toallow the user to make settings, the remote controller 900 furthercomprises a menu button 902 and a group 920 of select buttons (upperbutton 921, lower button 922, left button 923, right button 924 and OKbutton 925).

When the user presses the menu button 902, a menu for setting the videoplayer/recorder is displayed. The user sets parameters by moving fromone candidate to another in each menu with the select buttons. Therecord channel is selected with the numeric button 903 or the channelbutton 904.

Each recorded program can be rewound, fast forwarded, paused or stoppedas in an ordinary video recorder. When the user presses the play button910, the program automatically starts from its final stop position.

The timer record button 915 is a button for the user to record a programwith a timer. As for timer recording, please refer to Japanese Laid-openPatent Application No.10-179992. The record button 916 is a button forrecording a program now on the air.

A description is subsequently given of the constitutions of data tables.

FIG. 13 shows the constitution of the channel definition table 700. Inthe channel definition table 700, program attributes and programinformation 704 are specified for each channel set. The expression“channel set” means a group of record channels having the same programattributes and defined by the first number 701 and last number 702 of achannel set. Channel sets 711 to 718 are taken as examples. Channel sets711 to 716 are classified, for example, by the category of recordedprograms. In the channel set 711, programs categorized into a group ofdramas are allocated to channel numbers 001 to 020. In the channel set716, programs which are not categorized into groups of dramas, movies,sports, local and world news and variety shows are allocated to channelnumbers 091 to 100. In the channel set 717, programs where “MissSo-and-so” plays are allocated to channel numbers 101 to 110. Theprograms of “Miss So-and-so” who is a user's favorite can be always seenon the record channels 101 to 110. Similarly, in the channel set 718,programs on sports meetings are allocated to channel numbers 111 to 120.In the channel sets 717 and 718, channels already allocated in thechannels groups 711 to 716 are allocated again and double definition orallocation is not prevented because it is considered that the userwanted to carry out further classification.

In the definition table, a record channel number is assigned to eachprogram. One record channel number may be assigned to a plurality ofprograms. For example, one record channel number may be assigned to eachprogram information on dramas or movies. One record channel number maybe assigned to each broadcasting station. In this case, the broadcastchannel number (channel number for selecting a TV broadcasting station)and the record channel number may be correlated to each other. Forexample, when the broadcast channel number is 4, the record channelnumber may be 14 (the first digit number is the same as that of thebroadcast channel number). In this case, the broadcast channel number(channel number for selecting a TV broadcasting station) and the recordchannel number may be the same. In this case, to distinguish a recordedprogram from a program now on the air, a TV/video mode switching buttonis provided to display that the program now on the air is displayed ifthe button is set to a TV mode. A number other than broadcast channelnumber may be used as a record channel number.

FIG. 12 shows the constitution of EPG (Electronic Program Guide) 600.Program information (601 to 612) is stored for each program. The programinformation consists of channel (601), the name of a program (602),broadcasting time and date (603), duration (604), category (605),purchase price (606), sound, language (607), others (608), programinformation (609), the name of a person such as a performer (610),keyword (611) and series (612). Since the specifications of EPG are notstandardized now, the constituent elements of program informationtransmitted from broadcasting stations as EPG differ from one another.Therefore, to actually operate the present invention, a programinformation creation program for establishing compatibility betweendifferent EPG specifications is required. EPG may contain a recordchannel.

EPG is also called “program guide” in digital satellite broadcasting andused to support a user to see a broadcast program. EPG in digitalsatellite broadcasting is detailed in the Video Information MediaAcademic Society's bulletin Vol. 51, No. 9, 1997, pp. 1364(30)-1369(35).A terrestrial broadcasting service for distributing EPG buried in a VBIarea is expected to be available soon.

FIG. 14 shows the constitution of the channel assignment table 800. Thechannel assignment table 800 consists of a channel (CH) number 801, thename of a program 802, recording date and time (year 803, month 804, day805, time 806), the length of recording 807, the length of viewing 808,saving mark 809 and location in storage (playback point 810, stop point811). The channel number of the received broadcasting station and thename of the broadcasting station may be added to these. The recordingdate and time are year, month, day and time when the program isrecorded. The length of recording 807 is a time length during which theprogram is recorded. As the user does not always record one program, therecording time length is not always the same as the broadcasting time ofthe program. The length of viewing 808 indicates the total time lengthduring which the user has seen programs up till now. Based on theassumption that the user always sees a recorded program from thebeginning, only the length of viewing is recorded. The viewing starttime and the time length may be recorded. The saving mark 809 is used toindicate that the program will be seen by the user later. If this markis not ON (in the figure), the system may automatically cancel channelsettings. The location in storage is a location where the recordedprogram is actually stored. The playback program is used to load arecorded program from this location and play it.

The lines 821 to 830 in the figure show examples for respectivechannels. For example, the line 821 shows that a program titled “FirstLove” recorded at 20:00 on Feb. 9, 1998 is stored in the channel number001 for 60 minutes. It is understood that the user saw that recordedprogram for 20 minutes and the saving mark is not ON.

When the channel assignment table 800 is compared with the channeldefinition table 700 (FIG. 13), recorded programs having channel numbers001 to 003 are dramas, recorded programs having channel numbers 021 to022 are movies, recorded programs having channel numbers 041 to 042 aresports, a recorded program having a channel number 081 is a varietyshow, and a recorded program having channel number 091 is anotherprogram. Although the channel number 111 has the same contents as thechannel number 041, that channel number is assigned owing to the keyword“sports meeting”. The user can see the “Sports Meeting Opening Ceremony”from both categories “sports” and “sports meeting”.

A description is subsequently given of the processing flow of a programand examples of the screen.

First, FIG. 3 shows the processing flow of the channel definitionprogram 200. The program is executed when the user presses the menubutton 902 by the remote controller and selects the menu “Channeldefinition” from a group of menus displayed. When the program isexecuted in step 201, the current channel definition table 700 is firstdisplayed for the user. When the user do not define the channeldefinition table as right after the user has purchased the apparatus,the system displays a predetermined default value. This default value isset to cover as many general users as possible so that they do not haveto change much.

FIG. 16 shows the display of channel definition 1000. The channeldefinition table of FIG. 13 is displayed as it is. The user uses theselect button 920 on the remote controller to select a channel set. Onthe screen, the selected area 1001 is lighted up according to theselection of the user. When the OK button 925 on the remote controlleris pressed (step 203) with the illuminated channel set to be modified bythe user, the screen changes to display for editing the channel set(step 204). On this editing display, the value of each item of thechannel definition table is modified. In this case, program attributesand information are selected from replaceable candidates (step 205). Themodified contents are reflected on the channel definition table 700 andthe channel definition display 1000 immediately (step 206).

Operation buttons are displayed on a lower part of the channeldefinition display. The previous display button 1002 and the followingdisplay button 1003 are used when the whole of channel definition tablecannot be displayed on the screen. The shapes (hatching, solid line) ofthe buttons show that there is nothing on the previous display and achannel set is still shown on the following display. The channeldefinition display is canceled with the end button 1004 and the screenreturns to the original display. In other words, until the end button isselected, the user repeats the channel definition.

FIG. 4 shows the processing flow of the channel assignment program 300.The program is executed when a program is recorded. When the program isexecuted (step 301), electronic program information on the recordedprogram is acquired in step 302. In the following step 303, a channelset corresponding to the electronic program information is acquired withreference to the channel definition table. When a plurality of channelsets are acquired at this point, the steps 305 to 309 are repeated (step304). In step 305, it is confirmed from the channel assignment table ifthere are any unused channels in the channel set. When there are unusedchannels, the routine proceeds to step 307 and when there aren't, thechannel reservation program 350 is started (step 306). The channelreservation program will be detailed hereinafter. Stated briefly, theprogram is for the processing of reserving a channel which seems to beunnecessary for a program to be newly registered. In step 307, an unusedchannel number in the channel set is allocated to a recorded program.Channel numbers are allocated in the sequential order from a smallernumber to a larger number. One channel number is allocated to eachprogram in this embodiment. However, a channel set may have one channelnumber as described above. In this case, when a channel is selected bythe user, (1) a list of corresponding programs (the names, broadcastingtimes and broadcasting channels of programs) are displayed, (2) thedisplay screen is divided into some parts and the corresponding programsare displayed in the divided parts, and (3) predetermined parts such asinitial parts of programs are displayed sequentially. In step 308,information on recorded programs (the titles and storage locations ofprograms) are input into the channel number line of the channelassignment table 800. In the step 309, it is checked if there are anyother channel sets. When there are, the routine returns to the step 304to repeat the processing and when there aren't, the routine proceeds tostep 310 to end the program.

The concept of channel sets is used in FIG. 4 but may not be used. Forexample, it is confirmed if there is an unused channel number for eachprogram and the channel number is allocated to a recorded program whenthere is any. Channel number sets are not judged whether or not there isan used channel number but may be allocated according to programs. Forexample, channel numbers 11 to 20 are allocated to drama programs andchannel numbers 21 to 30 are allocated to “Miss So-and-so”, performer,according to the program information of FIG. 13. Further, they may beallocated based on the broadcasting station, time and date and thecontents of programs (key words). Each channel number may be correlatedwith each channel set. For example, a certain channel set may have thesame first digit number or may be multiples of 3. Channel numbers may beallocated according to programs and not in the sequential order from asmaller number. This is applied whether the concept of channel sets isused or not. Further, channel numbers may be characters (words) otherthan numerals. The characters include symbols, alphabets and the like.

FIG. 5 shows the processing flow of the channel reservation program 350.The program is called from the channel assignment program 300. In thefirst step 351, when the program is started, channels which belong tothe channel set, have already been seen by the user and have no savingmark are retrieved from the channel assignment table. It is judged basedon the history of viewing of the channel assignment table whether thechannels have already been seen by the user. That is, if the time lengthof viewing is almost the same as the time length of recording (it isnecessary to determine a range in actual operation), it is consideredthat the program has been seen. For example, in the example of FIG. 14,since the time length of recording of a channel number 081 and the timelength of viewing are the same, it is judged that the program “WakuwakuDobutsumura” (Exciting Animal Village) has already been seen by theuser.

In the following step 353, the number of retrieved channels is counted.When the number of the channels is zero, the routine proceeds to step354, when the number of the channels is 1, the routine proceeds to step356, and when the number is 2 or more, the routine jumps to step 355.Since there is no retrieved channel number in step 354, a record channelhaving the oldest recording date and time is secured from the channelset as a channel candidate. In the step 355, channel having the oldestrecording data and time from retrieved channels is specified. In thesubsequent step 356, the contents of the candidate channel number aretransferred to a temporary channel set. The temporary channel set has asufficient number of channels to prevent a shortage of channels. Sincethe user does not erase the recorded programs, only their channelnumbers are changed while the recorded programs remain as they are. Inthe final step 357, the program ends and the routine returns to thechannel assignment program of FIG. 4.

Then, FIG. 6 shows the processing flow of the channel selection program400. The program is started when the user sees a recorded program. Thatis, the program is always executed while the user sees a recordedprogram.

Firstly, in the recorded program view mode, the program is executed(step 401). The input of the remote controller is then detected. When itis the channel button, the channel sequential selection program 420 isstarted. When the input of the remote controller is the numeric button,the channel direct selection program 440 is started. When the input ofthe remote controller is the volume button or others, the volume controlprogram or other program carries out processing. Then, the input of theremote controller is awaited again (step 402). When the routine returnsfrom the channel sequential selection program 420 and the channel directselection program 440 in step 403, it is checked if the view modecontinues. If it continues, the routine returns to step 402 again towait for the input of the remote controller. If it does not, the routineproceeds to step 404 to terminate the channel selection program.

FIG. 7 shows the processing flow of the channel direct selection program420. The program is started when the input of the numeric button isdetected by the channel selection program 400 (step 421). After theprogram is started, a numeral input by the user is acquired (step 422).The numeral in this case is a channel number. In the following step 423,it is checked if the channel number exists in the channel assignmenttable. In step 424, when the channel number exists, the routine proceedsto step 460. When the channel number does not exist, the routineproceeds to step 425 to inform the user of it and leave the program. Toinform the user of the absence of the channel number, it is conceivablethat a message or icon is displayed. Alternatively, like the current TVreceiver, it is conceivable that the screen displays nothing.Subsequently, the record channel playback program 460 is called to playa recorded program corresponding to the channel number input by theuser. In the final step 427, the routine returns to the channelselection program 400.

FIG. 8 shows the processing flow of the channel sequential selectionprogram 440. The program is started when the input of a channel buttonis detected by the channel selection program 400 (step 441). After thestart of the program, the button (“+” or “−”) input by the user isacquired (step 422). The button “+” means the increment of the channelnumber. The button “−” means the decrement of the channel number. In thefollowing step 443, when the input is the button “+”, the routineproceeds to step 444 and when the input is button “−”, the routineproceeds to step 445. In step 444, a channel number right after thecurrent channel is acquired from the channel assignment table. In step445, a channel number right before the current channel is acquired fromthe channel assignment table. Subsequently, the record channel playbackprogram 460 is called and an appropriate recorded program is played. Inthe final step 447, the routine returns to the channel selection program400.

FIG. 9 shows the processing flow of the record channel playback program460. The program is called from the channel sequential selection program420 or the channel direct selection program 440 (step 461). A channelnumber to be played next is delivered (step 462). In the following step463, a record channel corresponding to the channel number is retrievedfrom the channel assignment table. In the following step 464, thestorage location and the history of viewing of a recorded program areacquired from the record channel. The history of viewing indicates thestop position of a recorded program previously seen by the user. In step465, the video at the storage location is played from the above stopposition. For example, when the user has never seen the record channel,the recorded program is played from the start point. The channel numberand the title of the program are displayed using OSD (On Screen Display)to support the user to see the program. In step 466, the stop positionis recorded on the channel assignment table because the recorded programwhich is being played is stopped. In the step 467, newly played channelnumber to monitoring program is informed. In step 468, the routinereturns to the called program. Take into consideration the stopposition. Supposing that the video is saved in MPEG, the stop positionis existent with a group of pictures as the minimum unit. This isbecause the GOP is the random accessible minimum unit in MPEG.Therefore, the sequence header provided at the head of GOP is recordedas the stop position.

FIG. 10 shows a diagram for explaining the processing flow of amonitoring program 480 in the first, second, third and fourthembodiments of the present invention. In the step 481, the monitoringprogram 480 is started. In the step 482, playback position of recordchannel is detected. In the step 483, it is checked if playback isended. In the step 484, next record channel is automatically played.(The same processing as when “+” is input with remote controller isexecuted with channel sequential selection program 440.) In the step485, it is checked if viewing mode is continued.

FIG. 17 shows the display of recorded program playback 1100. On thescreen, a recorded video 1101 to be played, the channel number and thetitle of the program 1102 and an icon 1103 indicating the feature of therecorded program are displayed. The channel number is displayed suchthat the user can understand which record channel is now displayed. Thetitle of the program is displayed such that the user can understand thecontents of the recorded program which is now played. The icon is usedto tell the user the attributes of the recorded program. For example,when an icon “NEW” is displayed for a recorded program which the usersees for the first time, the user can know that he/she has never seenthe program. It is also conceivable that the attributes of a recordchannel which is recorded in the channel assignment table are displayed.

FIG. 11 shows the processing flow of the channel management program 500.The program is started in a video management mode (step 501). In step502, an editing command is acquired. In the following step 503, only adeletion command and a saving command are detected and the routinereturns to step 502 for stand-by in case of other commands. In thisembodiment, only deletion and saving commands are detected. All thecommands which have an influence upon the channel assignment table aredetected here and appropriate processing for maintaining the fitness ofthe channel assignment table is carried out. For example, when theediting command is to save a recorded program, the routine proceeds tostep 504 to retrieve a record channel corresponding to the recordedprogram to be saved from the channel assignment table. In step 505, thesaving mark of the record channel is set ON. The saving mark is OFFinitially. Similarly, when the deletion of a recorded program isdetected as the editing command, the routine proceeds to step 506 toretrieve a record channel corresponding to the recorded program to bedeleted from the channel assignment table. In step 507, the contents ofthe record channel are cleared. After the steps 505 and 507, it ischecked if the editing mode still continues in step 508. When the modestill continues, the routine returns to step 502 for stand-by and whenthe mode does not continue, the program ends together with the editingmode (step 509).

FIG. 18 shows the concept of disk access. In the disk access method,only seek is carried out without wait for rotation. At the time ofswitching the channel, the channel is jumped to the closest portion ofthe channel and a video is started on the way, which is accepted becausethe user is searching for an appropriate program.

(The Second Embodiment)

In the second embodiment, the recorded video viewing support system ofthe present invention is applied to a TV display device 121 having avideo playing and recording function.

FIG. 20 shows the constitution of the apparatus of this embodiment. TheTV display device 121 incorporates a video player/recorder 120. Thevideo player/recorder 120 has recorded video viewing support means 110.The constitution of the video player/recorder 120 is almost identical tothat of Embodiment 1. However, the video player/recorder 120 must bereduced in size and incorporate countermeasures against the noise andvibration of a storage device and a countermeasure against heat forcontrol means to incorporate it in the TV display device 121. Theconstitutions of data tables and the processing flows of the programs inthe recorded video viewing supporting means 110 are as described in thefirst embodiment.

(The Third Embodiment)

In the third embodiment, the recorded video viewing support system ofthe present invention is carried out as computer software.

FIG. 21 shows the constitution of the apparatus of this embodiment. Apersonal computer 123 which is now widespread to households is used as acomputer. The personal computer 123, has hardware which is connected toan antenna 107 to receive TV broadcasting. The personal computer 123also has a DA converter 124 to output a video to a TV display device109. The DA converter serves to convert the VGA output of the personalcomputer into NTSC signals. Therefore, the personal computer 123 and theTV display device 109 can be connected to each other by an ordinary AVcable 140.

The constitutions of data tables and the processing flows of theprograms in the recorded video viewing support means 110 are asdescribed in the first embodiment. The control means 112 is amicroprocessor.

As a variation of the third embodiment, it is conceivable that thepersonal computer is connected to a display for personal computers andnot the TV display device 109. In this case, the output of the personalcomputer may be ordinary VGA as the constitution is ordinary.

It is further conceivable that EPG receiving means 101 is used as anetwork connector. In this constitution, program information such as EPGcan be acquired from a server on the network. The internet or the likeis used as the network. In Embodiments 1, 2, 4 and 5, EPG may beacquired through the network.

(The Fourth Embodiment)

In the fourth embodiment, the recorded video viewing support system ofthe present invention is applied to a video server 125. The video server125 is a device for distributing a video to a plurality of terminalsconnected by the network.

FIG. 22 shows the constitution of the apparatus of this embodiment. Thevideo server 125 comprises the recorded video viewing support means 110described in Embodiment 1, network access means 126 and servermanagement software. The server management software is a group ofprograms for processing service requests from terminals and processesthe storage and distribution of a video. The network 141 is a LAN,IEEE1394 or the like.

The terminal is a TV display device 109 having an adapter 130 as anexternal unit or a TV display device 127 incorporating an adapter 130.The adapter 130 consists of network access means 126 and a video decoder128. The video decoder 128 converts a video signal from the server intoa signal to be transmitted to the TV display device. For example, when avideo signal is MPEG stream data, the video decoder 128 is a MPEGdecoder.

(The Fifth Embodiment)

In the fifth embodiment, the recorded sound selection support system ofthe present invention is applied to a radio sound player/recorder 130.

FIG. 23 shows the constitution of the apparatus of this embodiment. Theradio player/recorder 130 records a radio program received from theantenna 131 and plays the recorded program (recorded radio program) tooutput it from a speaker 133. Recorded sound selection supporting means132 is incorporated in the radio player/recorder 120. The constitutionsof data tables and the processing flows of programs in the recordedsound selection supporting means 132 are the same as those of the firstembodiment except that video recording-related portions are replaced bysound recording-related portions.

Since the recorded video viewing support system of the present inventionis to select a recorded program based on a channel like conventional TVbroadcasting, operation is easy. As the contents of a program can beselected by specifying a channel number, it is easy to find a desiredrecorded program. Further, zapping processing for searching for adesired recorded program by changing the channel at random is possiblewith the video player/recorder like an ordinary TV.

What is claimed is:
 1. A recorded video viewing support method for avideo recorder for recording a video, comprising the steps of:classifying electronic video information on videos corresponding to eachunit video based predetermined criteria of video classification;assigning class numbers according to classification results to unitvideos to be recorded and storing them; and playing the recorded unitvideos based on the stored class numbers.
 2. A video recorder forrecording a video, comprising: means of recording the video; means ofclassifying electronic video information on videos corresponding to eachunit video based on predetermined criteria of video classification; andmeans of assigning class numbers according to classification results tounit videos to be recorded and storing them.
 3. The video recorder ofclaim 2, wherein the video is a TV program and the electronic videoinformation is electronic program-information superimposed on the TVprogram and broadcast.
 4. The video recorder of claim 3, wherein therecorded program is played by inputting a channel number correspondingto a stored class number.
 5. The video recorder of claim 4, wherein thechannel number is the class number.
 6. The video recorder of claim 4,wherein the input of the channel number is carried out by a device inwhich the channel number of a TV receiver used in conjunction with thevideo recorder is input.
 7. The video recorder of claim 6, wherein whenthe channel of a TV program on the air is selected while a recorded TVprogram is played, the playing of the recorded TV program is suspended.8. The video recorder of claim 6, wherein the video recorder can play arecorded video.
 9. The video recorder of claim 4, wherein the playing ofthe recorded program is resumed at a location where playing has beensuspended when the program is played at least once.
 10. The videorecorder of claim 4, wherein the playing of the recorded program isstarted from the beginning of the program.
 11. The video recorder ofclaim 4, wherein either the class numbers or the channel numbers areassigned to correlated programs and the numbers are correlated eachother.
 12. The video recorder of claim 11, wherein the correlatednumbers are a predetermined number of sequential numerals.
 13. The videorecorder of claim 4, wherein only one of either the class numbers or thechannel numbers is assigned to a plurality of programs.
 14. The videorecorder of claim 4, wherein the channel numbers are different from thechannel numbers of receivable broadcasting stations.
 15. The videorecorder of claim 4, wherein predetermined numbers different from thoseof TV programs are assigned to videos to be input into the videorecorder which are not superimposed by the electronic programinformation as either the class numbers or the channel numbers.
 16. Thevideo recorder of claim 4, wherein the video recorder can output a videorecorded on a detachable recording medium, and when there is noelectronic program information on the video recorded on the recordingmedium, a predetermined number is assigned as at least one of the classnumber and the channel number.
 17. A recorded video viewing supportapparatus which can be connected to a TV program player/recorder forrecording a TV program and playing the recorded TV program and supportsthe TV program player/recorder to record a TV program, the apparatuscomprising: means of classifying broadcast TV programs and electronicprogram information corresponding to the TV programs based onpredetermined criteria of video classification; and means of assigningclass numbers according to the results of classification to TV programsto be recorded.
 18. The recorded video viewing support apparatus ofclaim 17 which comprises means of outputting the assigned class numberto the TV program player/recorder.
 19. The recorded video viewingsupport apparatus of claim 17, wherein the apparatus comprises means ofstoring the assigned class numbers and the TV program player/recorderplays a TV program recorded by the TV program player/recorder based onthe stored class number and a number correlated to the class number andinput from a viewer.
 20. A video recording medium which can record videoinformation and can be played by a video player, wherein class numbersaccording to the results of classifying electronic video information onvideos related to recorded video information based on predeterminedcriteria of video classification are assigned to recorded videoinformation and stored; and when the channel selection button of theremote controller of the video player or a TV receiver used inconjunction with the video player is selected, if the selected number isa stored class number, the video information is played.